Lapel pin

ABSTRACT

A pin for the lapel or other clothing of the wearer, which provides an ornamental pin or organization badge in one condition of the parts, but which is movable to another condition in which the parts may present an identification text which is concealed in the other condition.

United States Patent Churchman Mar. M, 11972 [54] LAPEL PIN 1,058,357 4/19l3 Fawkes ..40/1 .6 Inventor: Michael S. Churchman, 6433 East 30th 2,408,224 9/1946 Palmer ..40/l .6

Street, Indianapolis, 46219 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Filedi F 26, 1970 495,662 4/1930 Germany ..40/18 .1 4, 2 [21] No l 27 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras [52] US. Cl ..40/1.6 Attorney-Robert A. Spray [5i] Int. Cl ..A44c 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..40/18, L5, 1.6, 65, 28; [57] ABSTRACT 46/19 A pin for the lapel or other clothing of the wearer, which provides an ornamental pin or organization badge in one condi- [56] Reierences cued tion of the parts, but which is movable to another condition in UNITED STATES PATENTS which the parts may present an identification text which is concealed in the other condition. 301,920 7/1884 Pierce ..40/18 420,757 2/1890 Adams ..63/19 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures LAPEL PIN Concepts of the invention provide a clothing pin, as for a lapel, coat or sweater, which has movable parts; in a first position, the parts provide an ornamental pin in which no particular indication appears as to its message-carrying nature, but in another position, the parts present for view an identification text or message.

The above is of a generalized and introductory nature. The particular details, concepts, and features of the invention are more fully set forth and described in more detail in the following more detailed description of an embodiment to illustrate the inventive concepts, the description being taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are somewhat diagrammatic in nature, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a lapel pin illustrating the inventive concepts, the pin being shown in a folded or message-covering position of its parts;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pin shown in FIG. 1, but with the pin unfolded to expose its message-text contents;

FIGS. 3 through 9 are fragmental detail views, mostly shown at least partially in a cross section, and in about twice the scale as FIGS. 1 and 2, and in which:

FIG. 3 is a view generally as indicated by View-line 3-3 of FIG. 1, of a pin in folded or message-concealing position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but taken generally as indicated by View-line 44 of FIG. 2, the parts being shown open, in unfolded or message-revealing position or condition;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are fragmental views taken generally as indicated, respectively, by View-lines 55, 6-6, 7-7, 8 8, and 99 ofFIG. 2.

As shown in the drawings, a lapel identification pin 10 is formed as an ornamental pin, as shown in a folded condition as in FIG. 1; but the pin is unfoldable or openable, as shown in FIG. 2 to present an identification text or message shown as the message cards 12 and 14.

More particularly, the pin 10 of the illustrative embodiment is formed of a front plate 16 and a rear plate 18, interconnected by a hinge means 20. The hinge means 20 is desirably hidden by the front plate 16, when the plates 16-18 are folded (FIG. 1 and 3 condition) in which the message cards 12-14 are hidden.

The front face 22 of the front plate 16 is provided with whatever ornamentation or design 24 (24a, 24b, 24c) is desired. Of course, not only ornamental design adornments or stones may be utilized; but the identification emblem or badge of the wearers organization, church or religious symbol or emblem, or other design or indicia, may desirably and advantageously be provided on that face 22.

The message cards 12-14 are shown as retained in a groove means carried by the plates. That is, the front plate 16 is shown as having a flange 26, along its rear face, extending along its two sides and its bottom edge (FIG. 2 position), spaced from the plate 16 a small amount and providing a groove or channel 28. Similarly, the rear plate 18 is shown as having a flange 30, along its front face, extending along its two sides, spaced from the plate 18 a small amount providing a groove or channel 32.

The hinge means 20, being at the bottom of the plate 18, and at the bottom of the plate 16 when it is in its folded-up or message-hiding position (FIG. 1), and the hinge means extending across any gap between the plates 16-18, the hinge means blocks the message cards 12-14 from falling downward out ofthe pin 10.

The pin or clasp 34, by which the lapel pin 10 is connectable to the users clothing, is indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 4, on the rear face 36 of rear plate 18.

In using the pin 10 with its message text hidden (FIG. 1) a friction clasp 38, extending rearwardly from front plate 16 and engaging the upper edge 40 of the rear plate 18, serves to frictionally retain the front plate 16 in its message-covering position.

The clasp 38 desirably is relatively weak, permitting very easy and convenient change from the folded (FIG. 1) condition to the open or unfolded (FIG. 2) condition, and vice ver- The construction provides, particularly noting FIG. 2, a message text space or area approximately double the frontal or face area of the pin when in its folded or message-concealing (FIG. 1 and 3) condition.

Furthermore, the concepts provide a dual-function pin having two distinct text areas, particularly advantageous in prominently displaying each of one text such as the wearers name, and a second text such as the wearer's group or geographical characteristic, in a separate and distinct presentation, particularly advantageous in many types of meetings, where, upon occasion it is particularly desirable for the viewer to quickly discern a certain one of messages, yet on another occasion it is particularly desirable that the viewer be able to quickly identify or discern especially the other of the messages. For example, it may be that in a large preliminary meeting, it may be desirable that the wearers hometown or local group name be identifiable; yet a few minutes later, when the large preliminary meeting breaks up into small committees, it then becomes particularly important that the wearer's own name be readily discernable to others. Yet, en route to the meeting, or during long recesses away from the group, it is desirable that the overall pin 10 merely present an ornamental or society-identifying badge or emblem.

The concepts also advantageously avoid the waste of temporary name-plates for each meeting, avoid the unsightliness of many name-plates, and encourage the owner to obtain one of the societys identification badges.

It is thus seen that a device according to the inventive concepts provides a desired and advantageous lapel pin, which achieves the dual or multi-purpose effects and advantages as set forth herein.

Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of the invention according to this illustrative embodiment, considered with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and useful lightweight pin. having desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

Modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the invention; accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described or shown.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual-purpose and dual-efi'ect clothing pin, comprising:

first and second relatively movable members;

means supportingly but movably interconnecting said first and second relatively movable members, and supportingly providing relative movement thereof in and between a first position and a second position;

the said members in said first position presenting a first appearance presentation and the said members in said second position presenting a second appearance presentation, the said second position and said second appearance presentation being adapted to display textual or other message or indicia which is concealed in the said first position and first appearance presentation;

in a combination in which the said first and second members are operatively interconnected by hinge means which operatively extends completely between and at a relatively low position with respect to said members when they are in the said first position presenting said first appearance presentation, the said textual or other message or indicia being provided by a sheet-like member carried on one of said first and second members on the face thereof facing the other of said members when said members are in said first position presenting said first appearance presentation, the operative extending of said hinge means between said members in said first position thus serving also to support said sheet-like member against falling or otherwise moving downwardly when the said first and second member are in said first position in use.

2. A dual-purpose and dual-effect clothing pin, comprising:

first and second relatively movable members;

means supportingly but movably interconnecting said first and second relatively movable members, and supportingly providing relative movement thereof in and between a first position and a second position;

the said members in said first position presenting a first apin a combination in which the relative position of the said first and second members, when they are in the said first position presenting said first appearance presentation, is such that they are in a substantially fully overlapping position, but the relative position of the said first and second members, when they are in the said second position presenting said second appearance presentation, is such that they are at least substantially fully separated in a nonoverlapping sense, the respective substantial overlapping in the first position and non-overlapping in the second position providing that substantially the entire area of both said first and second members may be utilized for carrying said textual or other message or indicia but that the entirety of the said substantially the entire area of both said members so utilized will be and is concealed in the said first position which presents the said first appearance presentation. 

1. A dual-purpose and dual-effect clothing pin, comprising: first and second relatively movable members; means supportingly but movably interconnecting said first and second relatively movable members, and supportingly providing relative movement thereof in and between a first position and a second position; the said members in said first position presenting a first appearance presentation and the said members in said second position presenting a second appearance presentation, the said second position and said second appearance presentation being adapted to display textual or other message Or indicia which is concealed in the said first position and first appearance presentation; in a combination in which the said first and second members are operatively interconnected by hinge means which operatively extends completely between and at a relatively low position with respect to said members when they are in the said first position presenting said first appearance presentation, the said textual or other message or indicia being provided by a sheet-like member carried on one of said first and second members on the face thereof facing the other of said members when said members are in said first position presenting said first appearance presentation, the operative extending of said hinge means between said members in said first position thus serving also to support said sheet-like member against falling or otherwise moving downwardly when the said first and second member are in said first position in use.
 2. A dual-purpose and dual-effect clothing pin, comprising: first and second relatively movable members; means supportingly but movably interconnecting said first and second relatively movable members, and supportingly providing relative movement thereof in and between a first position and a second position; the said members in said first position presenting a first appearance presentation and the said members in said second position presenting a second appearance presentation, the said second position and said second appearance presentation being adapted to display textual or other message or indicia which is concealed in the said first position and first appearance presentation; in a combination in which the relative position of the said first and second members, when they are in the said first position presenting said first appearance presentation, is such that they are in a substantially fully overlapping position, but the relative position of the said first and second members, when they are in the said second position presenting said second appearance presentation, is such that they are at least substantially fully separated in a non-overlapping sense, the respective substantial overlapping in the first position and non-overlapping in the second position providing that substantially the entire area of both said first and second members may be utilized for carrying said textual or other message or indicia but that the entirety of the said substantially the entire area of both said members so utilized will be and is concealed in the said first position which presents the said first appearance presentation. 